Utsunomiya is famous throughout Japan for its gyoza, and so it’s only fitting that an annual festival to the fried dumplings would be held in the city. The Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival has been held at the beginning of November since 1999, with members of the Utsunomiya Gyoza Committee setting up stalls to sell their famous dumplings.   Visitors will be able to enjoy the subtle differences of dozens of dumplings as well as fill empty stomachs at a low cost: A three to five piece portion of gyōza, whether fried, boiled or steamed, will cost just 200 yen.   During the two days of festivities, visitors can also watch music bands and comedians at Miyajazz Inn, or see other live concerts at nearby venues.

This dam is located along Prefectural Route 23 in Kawaji， Kawajionsen， Nikko City. Completed in 1983， the dam was built along the Kinu River for purposes such as flood control and irrigation. It is the fourth tallest concrete arch dam in Japan. It is considerable force at the time of drainage. At the Kawaji dam museum close to the damsite， it displays the topography model around the dam， a dam model， a construction tool. It has a dining room， the tea room."

This strawberry farm is operated by a company created through a collaboration between Kanuma City and JA. At the farm, you can enjoy picking Tochigi's representative strawberry varieties, Tochiotome and Tochi-Aika. Reservations are required for strawberry picking, and you can eat as much as you want for 45 minutes. The greenhouses are barrier-free and equipped with toilets, so anyone can pick strawberries in safety. The shop also sells Tochihime, a strawberry that has been dubbed a phantom variety because of its soft flesh and rare availability, as well as the luxury variety Skyberry.

This park is located in a vast area that stretches to the Nasu Mountains. It features an outdoor obstacle course， a family pool， and other facilities are popular with children. There's lots for kids to do in the park like playing carefree and grassy fields， sledding (a popular activity)， an obstacle course， a family pool， a drive-up campground and more. It's the best place to refresh the body and mind."

Yunoko Lake is a lake that has formed by the eruption of Mt. Mitake. It is about 3 km in circumference. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains， and is somehow shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere. There is a walking path on the lakeshore， and you can make a round of it in about an hour. There are various types of primary forests in the surroundings， and you can see colorful autumnal leaves in the fall. It is also a spot famous for trout fishing， and is thronged with people during the fishing season from May to September."

Moka City boasts the largest strawberry production in Japan. At Igashira Kanko Strawberry Farm, you can eat as many ripe, sweet strawberries as you like for 60 minutes. There are two varieties of strawberries: "Tochiotome," which has a good balance of sweetness and sourness, and "Tochi-Aika," which has little sourness and stands out for its sweetness. Enjoy your fill of fresh, delicious strawberries that are unique to this producing area. *You cannot choose the variety. *Reservations required for groups *Entry may be restricted depending on circumstances   In addition, the neighboring "Agurikko" sells fresh, freshly picked agricultural products all year round. Recommended products are fully ripe strawberries (January to May) and melons (May to June) from winter to spring, corn in summer, and pears and rice in autumn.

History of Bannaji Temple On the site of the present-day Bannaji Temple, a powerful samurai called Minamoto no Yoshiyasu, who was as famous as Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo (the father of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune) built his castle at the end of Heian period. He is the first generation of Ashikaga family.   In 1196, Ashikaga Yoshikane, the son of Yoshiyasu, built a hall dedicated to Dainichi Nyorai, and the 3rd head of Ashikaga family, Ashikaga Yoshiuji, built a hall tower and other buildings. Since that, the Bannaji Temple bacame the clan temple of Ashikaga family. 150 years later, the 7th head of the family, Ashikaga Takauji, founded the Muromachi Shogunate, which gave the Ashikaga family the reign of Japan. Even in the Edo period, as the temple of the Ashikaga family, the direct descendant of the Minamoto clan, was revered and protected by the Tokugawa Shogun, who claimed to be a member of the Minamoto clan.   Became the National Treasure of Japan In 1923, Bannaji Temple was designated as a National Historic Site as the "Ashikaga Family Residence". The main hall, the bell tower, and the sutra hall were designated as National Important Cultural Properties. It was selected as the one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. The 40,000-square-meter territory is laid out in a square shape, surrounded by a circular fortress and a moat, and retains the characteristics of the Kamakura period's Buke Yashiki (samurai's house).   Annual Events On February 3, the temple hosts the Ashikaga Setsubun Armor Parade, in which more than 150 participants dressed as samurai and wearing armor parade to Bannaji Temple and then perform the bean-scattering ceremony. In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, and in fall, you can see the leaves of the city's natural monument, the Ginkgo tree (about 600 years old), turn yellow, and the beauty of the tree is breathtaking.      

"Snow Peak KANUMA Campfield & Spa" is a camping ground consisting of 91 sites. It caters to various needs and camping styles, and offers rental of all necessary camping equipment, allowing you to enjoy camping without bringing your own gear. You can also enjoy open-air baths and sauna at the hot spring facility, as well as use the wooden deck and grassy area where you can eat meals purchased for takeout. Indulge in shopping at our store, where you can find locally sourced products and Snow Peak gear, and savor freshly-ground, hand-made soba noodles at "Kaminanma Soba Ryugai," a restaurant serving up delicious local ingredients.

Toji-ba is a place where people stay for extended periods to undergo therapeutic treatments using hot spring baths. In Japan, this has long been cherished as a traditional method of promoting health and wellness. "Terayama Hot Spring" is said to have healing powers for various ailments. The high-quality spring water, rich in iron, is known as the "Miracle Bath" and comes highly recommended even by medical professionals. When consumed, it is effective in treating anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, and constipation. When used for bathing, it improves blood circulation, promoting detoxification and relieving various types of pain. Furthermore, the meals at the inn are prepared with the intention of "eating healthy and safe food to become energized," and they use organic vegetables grown without pesticides and local wild mountain vegetables. Please visit according to your travel style, whether it's a day trip or an overnight stay.   【About the Hot Spring】 Water color: Reddish brown (after heating) Quality: Ferruginous spring Therapeutic effects: Drinking: Anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, constipation, etc. Bathing: Neuralgia, rheumatism, gastrointestinal diseases, gynecological diseases, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, etc.

Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture is the hometown of world famous jazz musicians such as Sadao Watanabe and Haruhiko Takauchi. To make Utsunomiya a Jazz Town, various musical events are taking place throughout the year. New jazz-related groups are being created owing to the efforts of jazz lovers as well as owners of clubs and music houses that have a connection to jazz music. One such group is the Utsunomiya Jazz Association, and its member clubs are hosting live jazz performances where you can feel the vibes of Jazz Town Utsunomiya. If you are a first-timer, no problem! You will be warmly welcomed by regulars and staff members in a bright atmosphere. Enjoy a wonderful night in Jazz Town Utsunomiya.

The Moka Lantern Festival is held every year on August 15 at Gyokuya River Waterfront Park. The trees in the park are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere. On the stage, a concert will be held to bring back memories of the past. 3,500 lanterns floating on the surface of the river like scattered jewels will give you a sense of peace. We suggest that buy your lantern before the event begins. (Â¥600/a lantern) In addition, local restaurants will set up booths at the plaza, where you are welcome to enjoy food and drink as well as lantern viewing. Traffic Control 17:30~21:30 Parking Area Moka City Hall, Ashikaga Bank, Joyo Bank and Four Season Seifu, please check more informations on website.

What is Setsubun Armor Year-cross? Every year’s February 3 is “Setsubun” festival in Japan, symbolling the end of the winter. On this day, Ashikaga City holds “Armor Year-cross” event, over 200 people would dress as samurai to join the event. The parade walk to Bannaji Temple from Orihime Community Center. People celebrate their victory when they arrived at Bannaji Temple, and pray for city’s prosperity. History of Setsubun Armor Year-cross Back to the Kamakura period about 750 years ago, a powerful samurai called Ashikaga Yasuuji led 500 samurai to assemble at Bannaji Temple, the residence of Ashikaga Family, in order to honor their family. 120 years later, his descendant, Ashikaga Takauji, became the Shougun of Japan and created the Muromachi period. This event was closed in the late Edo and Meiji eras, but in 1915 (Taisho 4) it was restarted by a group of fiber workers. Ashikaga City has samurai armor and kimonos for visitors to try on.

This public hot spring facility in Kinugawa Park is popular with tourists and locals alike. It features men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor baths where visitors enjoy its soft alkaline water. It’s spacious and airy outdoor stone bath lets guests luxuriate while taking in bird song and the seasonal scenery. There is also a restaurant and a lounge for guests to unwind after the bath."

Sakura city is known both for "Ujō Noguchi" retro-styled buildings in the shopping center and the “satoyama” scenery characterized by farms and mountains. In addition to restaurants and farmers' markets, it’s popular for "Bihada-no-yu" hot springs which are said to beautify the skin.

*Gohanshiki has been cancelled in 2020. This traditional ceremony is still observed only at Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple. In this ceremony， people are forced to eat a large amount of rice. Cooked rice are offered on a large plate and every grain are urged to eat. The big bowl contains 5.4 litres of rice. No one actually eats the rice， but it is said that those who participate in the ceremony will have a family fortune and a healthy life. This sacred rice dedication ceremony is part of Nikko's ancient mountain Buddhism. By doing that， it is believed that the blessing of Buddha will immediately eradicate the Seven Major Misfortunes such as fire， floods， devils， etc.， and the people will receive the Seven Major Fortunes. It is said that even feudal lords such as the Tokugawa Shogun Families and other famous feudal lords across Japan joined this ceremony in the Edo period."

In 1610， two farmers were said to find copper in Mt.Bizentate. Mt. Bizentate stands 1，272 meters tall and is particularly popular among hikers in late April， when tall-growing azalea shrubs bloom across the mountainside."

At Ichigo-no-Sato Farm, you can enjoy picking ripe strawberries such as Tochi-Aika and Skyberry from December to May. Besides strawberries， the farm offers a variety of other fruits such as cherries， grapes and blueberries depending on the season. There are cafes， an Italian buffet restaurant and shops providing a wide range of products made with freshly picked fruits. Seasonal events are held at the studio such as cake baking classes and jam making workshops. Ichigo-no-Sato Farm also grows a rare variety of strawberries called "Tochihime," which has soft flesh and is difficult to transport, so can only be eaten at tourist strawberry farms. There are strawberry-picking plans available that allow you to eat Tochihime, so be sure to try the difference in taste.

A peaceful Onsen town on the northern shore of Lake Yunoko, situated in the heart of Nikko National Park. It is said that the Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin, who first built a temple in Nikko about 1200 years ago to introduce Buddhism to the area discovered the Onsen. The milky-white sulphur-infused water is said to help with neuralgia and rheumatism. You can try it out in the foot bath known as “Anyo-no-yu” available free of charge in the town.(Closed for winter)   Taking in the tranquil landscape of the lake and mountains beyond clouds of steam, the Onsen provides a relaxing soak in the midst of some great nature.